Automobile radiator sign or indicator



Feb. 26, 1935. E. w. MOERBE 1,992,876

AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR SIGN OR INDICATOR Filed June 12, 1934 Bnventor fl Clttorneg Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE If 7 Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in signs or indicators designed for removable connection to an automobile radiator or the cap therefor to indicate a certain fact or condition for the information of anyone attempting to supplywater to the radiator.

As a matter of up-to-date service practiced in most road and other service stations, when an automobile is driven in for replenishinggasoline or oil, it is customary for the attendants, usu ally without request or solicitation on the part of the owner, to wipe off the wind-shield and remove the radiator cap and replenish the water supply in the radiator, and very frequently this is'done without being noticed by the owner who ordinarily does not request the service and, therefore, is not usually expecting it. This free service is ordinarily accepted without question, but in connection with the refilling of the radiator may, in some instances, prove objectionable.

Ordinarily in winter the radiator is filled with an anti-freeze mixture which should not be diluted by the addition of water and, therefore, unless the owner of a car checks the efforts of the attendant toput water in the radiator, the benefits of the anti-freeze mixture are reduced, and as the atendant has no way of knowing whether the radiator contains an anti-freeze mixture unless the ovmer notices the'attempt of the attendant to fill the radiator and prevents it, the service is apt'to be a detriment rather than a help.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a sign or indicator which may be connected to the radiator or at pertinent parts thereof which will notify the attendant on an attempt to fill the radiator with water that the radiator contains an anti-freeze mixture or for any other reason is not to be disturbed by the addition of water.

The improved sign is, of course, an element complete in itself and designed to be attached preferably to the neck of the radiator or the cap thereof and remain visible so that the attendant will be notified on an attempt to remove the cap that water is not to be added to the radiator.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the sign complete in itself and as sold in the market.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the sign applied to a cap and designed for use with radiators of the later model automobiles.

Figure 3 is a transverse section thereof showing the sign applied in elevaiton and the cap in section.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation showing the sign applied to the radiator neck used with the olde models of automobiles. i i

The sign proper, which as stated is an element complete in itself and designed for-sale in the open market as such, comprisesa sign plate 1 .of appropriate area and preferably substantially rectangular in shape with rounded end, from which sign plate projects a main bar 2. The bar and the sign plate may be constructed integrally of metal or may be formed in two parts connected together, as more particularly illustrated in Figure 1,

; Carried by the main bar at approximately intermediate its length beyond the sign are intermediate strips or bars 3, the relatively inner ends of which are pivotally connected, as by a rivet 4 or like element, to the main bar. Endbars 5 are pivotallyconnected by a rivet or other means 6 to that end of the main bar 2 remote from the sign. v

The bars 3 and 5, as well as the main bar 2, are constructed of metal capable of being conveniently bent or formed but of sufiicient rigidity, however, to retain the form or shape in which they are arranged againstordinary casual displacement stresses. The. respective lengths of the bars 3 and 5 are unimportant so far as invention is concerned, it being understood that these bars will be constructed in lengths sulficient for the purpose for which they are designed, and while it is preferred that the end bars 5 be of greater length than the intermediate bars 3, this is not a particularly essential requisite of the present invention, 1 7

In connection with automobiles of the later models, the cap indicated at 7 in Figures 2 and 3 is fitted directly over a slight upstanding flange of the upper radiator shell without a neck extension. In applying the improved sign to this type of cap, the main bar 2 extends in substantial alignment with one axis of the cap, either the major or minor, according to the arrangement of the cap, and lies flat on the upper surface of the cap.

The'intermediate arms 3 are turned on their pivots to present a slight angle to the main bar and are carried over the edges of the cap and turned ,in beneath the lower edge of the canes indicated at 8 in Figure 2. The end bars 5 are also arranged at an angle to the main barv 2, preferably reversed from the angular relation of the intermediate bars, and their ends are bent over the edges of the cap and turned beneath the lower edge of the cap flange.

Of course, in this application the intermediate bars and the end bars are cut off to appropriate lengths to provide for the connection described and as the intermediate bars and end bars cooperate with the cap flange in both directions beyond, for example, the minor axis as shown, it

I will be appreciated that the sign as a Whole is fixed with relation to the cap in a manner to prevent casual displacement of'thesign in the ordinary manipulation of the cap .or other usual construction. After being thus applied, the main bar 2, slightly in advance of the intermediate bars,'is

turned upwardly so that the sign plate 1 overlies the cap, projects above the same, and presents the sign face, hereinafter referred to, in a manner to be instantly visible to anyone approaching I the cap. V

In the use of the sign with an automobile of an older model wherein the radiator is provided extend above the cap with the sign surface in a position to be immediately visible to anyone approaching the radiator.

In both forms of the device, if for any reason it is-not desirable to have the sign plate project above the cap, it may be turned down on the cap, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, in which position the data area of the sign will. also be visible and attract the attention of anyone attempting to move the cap.

It is to be particularly noted that the use and application of the sign does not many way interfere with the normal operation of the cap and that if for any purpose it is necessary to remove the cap, it can be conveniently done in the usual manner, such removal of the cap of the later model automobiles, of course, removing the sign because the sign is attached to the cap, whereas in the earlier models the removal of the cap does not interfere With the sign as the sign is connected to the neck of the radiator.

The device as a whole provides an element which may be readily and conveniently manufactured and economically sold and which may be conveniently applied to the cap of the radiator regardless of the model of the automobile.

The material of the improved sign or indicator is unimportant so long as it is capable of the uses described and while it is preferred that it be constructedof relatively thin sheet metal, both for the sake of economy and convenience, no limitation as to material is intended by this statement. All and any materials which can be conveniently used for the purpose are contemplated as within the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automobile sign or indicator designed for use in connection with the radiator, including a sign-bearing plate, and spaced arms swingingly connected in relation to the plate, with such arms capable of movement to different angular positions and having their terminal portions bendable to provide for the connection of the sign as a whole to a radiator part. I

2. An automobile radiator sign or indicator, including a sign-bearing plate, a bar projecting therefrom, and arms swingingly connected at their ends to and projecting in opposite directions from said bar.

3. An automobile radiator sign or indicator, including a sign-bearing plate, a bar projecting therefrom, and spaced bars arranged in'pairs and pivotally'cormected at their ends to the bar;

4. An automobile radiator sign or indicator, ineluding a sign-bearing plate, a main bar projecting therefrom, end bars pivotally connected to the main bar at the end thereof remote from the sign plate, and intermediate bars pivotally connected to the main bar at a point intermediate the sign plate and end bars.

5. The combination with an automobileradiator cap, of a sign plate, arms pivotally connected to the sign plate, the main lengths of the arms overlying and bearing upon the radiator cap, the

free terminals of the arms underlying the lower edge of the cap.

projecting therefrom to overlie and contact with the upper surface of said cap, and spaced pairs of bars pivotally connected to the main bar and projecting therefrom in opposite directions, the

' bars of each pair overlying the top of the cap,

the side wall thereof, and being terminally bent beneath the lower edge of the side wall, the bars of one pair projecting at an angle tothe main bar which is reversed with respect to the angle of projection of the other pair of bars.

ERIC W. MOERBE. [L. 5.] 

